Cy Falkenberg

[Cowtipper]

Cy Falkenberg spent 12 years in the big leagues, going 130-123 with 180 complete games and a 2.68 ERA in 330 games. He had one very excellent stretch, from 1913 to 1915, when he went 60-40 with a 2.38 ERA and 138 ERA+, averaging 20 wins and 25 complete games a year. He led the Federal League in WAR for pitchers, strikeouts, batters faced and games started in 1914 and he twice paced the league in best HR/9 IP ratio.

His neutralized statistics are interesting - his win total increases to 134 and his loss total decreases to 97, upping his winning percentage to .580 (from .514). However, his ERA also increases from a very solid 2.68 to a less stellar 3.46.

Statistically, Falkenberg is similar to Bob Ewing, Nap Rucker, Frank Smith, Claude Hendrix, Ray Caldwell, Harry Howell, Howie Camnitz, Dutch Leonard, Lefty Tyler and Dean Chance. He is ranked #264 on the Fan EloRater, ahead of Mike Boddicker, Matt Cain and Jon Lester, but behind Jesse Barnes, Lindy McDaniel and Frank Lary. In 1937, he received 0.5% of the vote for the Hall of Fame.

What do you think about Cy Falkenberg? Should he be in the Hall of Fame? Did he have Hall of Fame potential?

[dgarza]

2 big "emery ball" seasons. Sure, one of them was in the Federal League, but the other came 1st in the AL. But most of his other seasons, he was lucky to be a starter at all.

[Cowtipper]

2 big "emery ball" seasons. Sure, one of them was in the Federal League, but the other came 1st in the AL. But most of his other seasons, he was lucky to be a starter at all.

That's not untrue when you look at it. His "big three seasons": 60-40, 2.38 ERA. All his other years: 70-83, 2.87 ERA. Those other years were spread out over nine seasons, making his average record in those campaigns 8-9 in 23 games (18 starts).